sustainability

Introduction

Sustainability is sewn into the fabric of everything we do — from how our clothing is made to the work we do to help protect our planet.

MADE OF PROGRESS

Levi Strauss & Co. has a long history of caring — both for the communities in which we work and live, and for the environment. We believe that making a mark in the world is about what you do, but also how you do it.

For us, both the what and the how has been guided by the same values since our founding in 1853. Those values? Empathy. Originality. Integrity. Courage.

We like to say that our company and our products are Made of Progress, in part because we have a long history of firsts. Of leading. Of making a difference.

We strive to leverage our iconic brands to drive positive, sustainable change and profitable business results. By making products that last, we’ve taken a serious approach to sustainability — one that began more than 140 years ago when that first rivet-reinforced blue jean was crafted. And more recently we’ve built on that legacy with a scientific approach to making our product life cycle even more sustainable, leading to innovations like the Water<Less™ process and the Waste<Less™ collection.

Ultimately, it takes more than one company to make a difference. By sharing our approaches with others — and they with us — we can work together to move our industry forward while reducing our impact on the planet. Sure, we’re a leader, but through collaboration and cooperation with governments, NGOs, suppliers and even competitors, we can ensure the progress we make is shared. And, as a result, people everywhere can benefit. That’s true progress.

People

People are at the center of our success. Whether it’s our employees around the world, the apparel workers who make our clothes, or the people who wear our products, we are committed to doing right by all of them.

Planet

Levi Strauss & Co. is pioneering practices to reduce the use of energy, water, chemicals and other materials in the apparel industry. We can’t do this alone, but by taking innovative actions and partnering with others throughout the industry, we can help drive change and reduce our overall environmental impact.

Products

We view fashion as a merging of art, innovation and sustainability. After all, Levi’s® jeans are what the next generation wears — and we take that role to heart. We like to say that our company and our products are Made of Progress, in part because we have a long history of firsts. Of leading. Of innovating. Of making a difference.

Innovation is embedded throughout our clothing, from our rivet patent in 1873 to the more recent development of the Water<Less™, Waste<Less™ and Wellthread collections.

Production

We want our products to be part of a sustainable global movement. That’s why the factories that make our clothes must adhere to our Terms of Engagement. These Terms define labor, health, safety and environmental guidelines to help ensure the safety of apparel workers and communities in which they live and work. They also set out employment standards and specifically address issues of child labor, forced labor, disciplinary practices, working hours, wages and benefits, building integrity, freedom of association, discrimination, and health and safety.